The US-Israeli war against Iran could reduce the number of foreign tourists in the Middle East this year by 11–27%, resulting in tourism revenue losses of up to $56 billion, according to estimates published Tuesday by Tourism Economics, Reuters reports.

This forecast is a sharp reversal from the firm's December projection, which predicted a 13% increase in regional visitors this year. According to the revised estimate, international arrivals in 2025 will fall by 23–38 million people, with tourist spending in the region declining by $34–56 billion.

Cyprus, which has long served as a regional hub in the Eastern Mediterranean, is closely monitoring developments. Although the island is not part of the conflict zone — despite the earlier strike on RAF Akrotiri — its geographical proximity to the Middle East makes its tourism market vulnerable to shifts in international demand and the broader consequences a prolonged crisis could have on regional stability.